Bobbin winding mechanism



July 5, 1960 s. J. .HAMLETT BOBBIN WINDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 2; 1958 23 B INVENTOR.

J/D/VEYJ HAMLETT BY M 6? Mm lrmmvivs IBM: J

United States Patent 2,943,586 BOBBIN WINDING MECHANISM Sidney J. 'I-Iamlett, Par-ma, Ohio, assignor to White Sewing Machine Corporation, Lakewood, Ohio, a corpora- .tion of Delaware Filed Sept. 2, 1958 Ser. No. 758,455

11 Claims. (Cl. 112-418) The present invention relates to a sewing maching and, more particularly, to a novel and improved bobbin winder mechanism for such a machine.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a bobbin winding mechanism that is simple in structure, efficient in operation, and can be mounted in the head of a portable sewing machine with only a minimum number of parts extending outside of the sewing machine head.

Another object is the provision of a bobbin winding mechanism as set forth in the preceding object and in which the drive for a main drive Shaft is automatically disengaged during the winding of the bobbin.

Another object is the provision of a bobbin'winding mechanism that is particularly adapted to be mainly mounted within the head of aisewing machine and especially where only a minimum amount of space is available for the mechanism, particularly as in a portable sewing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel bobbin winding device of the above-described type which is simple and rugged in design, efiicient in its operation, and is-inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bobbin winding mechanism of the type described for preventing the overwinding of thread on a bobbin by disengaging the bobbin drive upon a predetermined amount of thread being wound on the bobbin.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bobbin winding mechanism provided with manual control means for enabling an operator to wind any amount of thread on a bobbin within the capacity thereof.

.A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bobbin winding mechanism adapted to be almost entirely housed within the head of a sewing machine where space'is at a premium, such as in a portable sewing machine, with only a minimum number of parts protruding outside, the head and adapted to be driven'by a pivotally mounted drive motor by manually swinging the motor out of engagement with the main drive shaft into driving engagement with the bobbin winding mechanism by means .of a simple fingertip operated bobbin winding control mechanism. a

The invention further resides in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which itpertains from the following description of; the present preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein the same reference characters represent corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which; Fig. 1 is afragmentaryvertical sectional view substantially along line 1--1 ofFig. 2 showing a head of a sewing machine embodying the present invention and looking fromthe rear side of the sewing machine.

"'Fi gb' 2 1s 'a-f-r'agmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the head of the machine showing a bobbin winding control lever moved to such a position that a drive motor is pivotally moved out of engagement with a drive wheel into engagement with a bobbin winding spindle drive wheel but with a bobbin not being shown; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the sewing machine head similar to Fig. 3 but with a bobbin shown mounted on a bobbin winding spindle and with the bobbin winding control lever shown in the same position as shown in Fig. 3, but with the control lever also shown in hidden outline for denoting the normal inactive position thereof.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 of the drawings generally comprises bobbin supporting means A and driving means B, adapted to support and drive a bobbin C when the bobbin supporting means A is in one position, and to support but not drive the bobbin C when the bobbin supporting means A is in a second position; thread sensing frictional braking means D adapted to free the bobbin from its frictional driving engagement with the bobbin driving means B when a predetermined amount of thread is wound upon the bobbin; and manually operated bobbin wind ing control means E comprising a lever for moving and frictionally holding the driving means B in driving engagement with the bobbin supporting means A and hold ing the threaded portion of the bobbin C in engagement with the first thread sensing frictional braking means D when a predetermined or sulficient amount of thread fills the bobbin to enable the bobbin C to be automatically braked against the brake D, the spindle driving means B being also released when the control meansE is positively released by-the operator for permitting the operator to wind any amount of thread on the bobbin C up to and including a predetermined amount automatically controlled by the brake D.

The bobbin supporting means A is comprised of a spindle 10 projecting through an arcuate slot in a sewing machine head standard or housing wall 11 and, more specifically, through the arcuate slot 11a in a vertical rear wall 11b of the sewing machine in such a manner as to be disposed perpendicularly to a substantially ;vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of a main shaft 12 which normally extends longitudinally of the horizontal arm of the sewing machine head. A handwheel 13 is fixed on the end of the shaft 1'2, which ex tends through a housing end wall 11c. A large diameter drive wheel 14, having an annular side tread 14a of arcuate transverse contour, is rigidly secured to the shaft 12 just inside the housing end wall with a setsc'rew 15.

The bobbin supporting means A further comprises a substantially U-shaped spindle support bracket 16 having interconnected parallel legs 16a, 16b. The leg 16a is pivotally connected to a vertical rear wall portion 11b of the standard or housing 11 by means of a pivot pin 17 journaled in the Wall 11b of the housing 11 and to which the support bracket '16 is nonrotatably connected in a conventional manner such as by a pin 18, the spindle 10 being journaled in the oppositely spaced legs 16a, 16b of the spindle support bracket -16.

The inner end of the spindle 10 is provided with a cylindrical driving wheel 19 with the edges rounded, which wheel 19 is fixed to the spindle 10 in a conventional manner such as by a transverse pin 20. The spindle'drive wheel 19 is adapted to be engaged by a cylindrical rubber friction drive roller 21 fixed to the upwardly extending end of a drive shaft 22 of an electric motor 23 controlled by a switch in the usual control circuit, not

Patented July 5, 1960 shown, and forming the driving means B. The housing of the motor 23 has a pair of diametrically outwardly and oppositely projecting trunnions 24 with reduced outer .ends journaled -in parallel walls of a substantially Llshaped motor support strap 25. shaped support strap 25 terminate in outwardly and oppositely extended flanges 25a abutting the end wall lie of the housing 11 and secured thereto by conventional means, such as screws 28.

The driving motor means B is pivotally mounted in the motor support strap 25 and can be swivelled into engagement with the spindle drive wheel 19 but is normally biased into frictional driving engagement with the annular side tread 14a of the drive wheel 14 by means of a helical tension spring 30. The spring 30 has one end secured to the motor 23 by means of a hook 31 and the other end secured to the end wall 11c of the housing 11 by means of a second hook 32 fixed thereto.

A helical compression spring 33 for cushioning the contact of roller 21 with the wheel 19 is disposed over an intermediate portion of the bobbin spindle between the spindle support bracket legs 16a and 16b and at one end thereof bears against the leg 16a of the spindle support bracket 16 and at the other end thereof bears against a collar 34 fixed to the spindle 10 by means of a transverse pin 35 so as to normally urge the spindle to the right as seen in Fig. 2 with the collar 34 bearing against the spindle support bracket leg 16b. The helical compression spring 33 not only serves the function of acting as a cushion upon the engagement of the motor drive roller 21 with the spindle drive wheel 19 but also prevents the digging in or other harmful contact of the roller 21 with the spindle drive wheel 19.

The manually operated bobbin winding control means E forms a finger tip control and is comprised of a lever 36 fixed to the pivot pin 17 by conventional means such as a transversely disposed pin 37 so that upon manually moving the lever in a counterclockwise direction, Figs. 3 and 4, the spindle support bracket 16 is caused to be moved an equal angular increment towards the thread sensing frictional braking means D until the arm 16a of bracket 16 strikes a stop pin 39 and the spindle 10 is in juxtaposition with the bottom of the arcuate slot 11a. The braking means D consists of a cylindrically shaped disk 40 rigidly secured to a substantially horizontally disposed mounting bar 41 by means of a roll pin 42, the mounting bar 41 being secured to the front wall of the standard housing 11 with two screws 43. The brake D is comprised of an assembly which is rigid throughout and has no relatively movable parts and the thickness or width of the cylindrical disk 40 is small enough to permit it to be inserted between the annular flanges of the bobbin C, which bobbin is conventional in construction.

The bobbin is adapted to be mounted on the outer end of the spindle 10 and is engaged by a mechanically engaging friction clutch consisting of a radially outwardly spring-pressed ball 44 situated in the spindle 10. It is understood that the friction clutch, consisting of the spring-pressed ball 44, will exert a predetermined amount of force against the inner surface of the cylindrical hub of the bobbin C and prevent the bobbin C from turning relatively to the spindle 10 unless a torsion brake is applied against the bobbin C and exerts sufiicient force to overcome the frictional connection between the bobbin C and spindle 10 and thereby cause the bobbin C to turn relative to the spindle 10.

Upon mounting the bobbin C upon the spindle 10 and looping thread therearound in a conventional manner, the lever 36 is pressed by the operator in a counterclockwise direction from the upper end of the arcuate groove 11a towards the lower end thereof, Figs. 3, 4. The spindle support bracket 16 is moved by the lever 36 in a counterclockwise direction so that the leg 16b, which is provided with a rounded or semi-circular peripheral cam surface, engages the curved tip of a substantially L- The ends of the U-- shaped cam follower 45, having one leg rigidly secured to the motor 23 in a conventional manner such as by two screws 46, and biases or swings the motor 23 on its trunnions 24 in support strap 25 away from the drive wheel 14 into driving contact with the spindle drive wheel 19. The friction between the engaged cam surface of leg 16b and the cam follower 45 is sufficient to hold the bobbin winder'driving wheel 19 in engagement with the rubber drive roller 21 without the operator having to hold down the lever 36. v I

With frictional forces holding the manual control lever down, thread from a supply spool, not shown, builds up on the bobbin C until sufficient thread is wound on the bobbin C to engage the periphery of the brake 40; and when the friction between the brake 40 and the thread exceeds the frictional grip or clutching forces exerted by the spring pressed spindle drive wheel 19 against the drive roller 21 or the spring-pressed ball 44 against the inner hub wall of the bobbin C, the clutch is disengaged. The bobbin C ceases to be driven by the motor 23 after the bobbin has been filled, due to the overriding action of the frictional drive connections. Preferably, the frictional driving connection between the bobbin C and the spindle 10 is stronger than the driving connection between the wheel 19 and the roller 21 so that the latter connection is the one which will slip when the bobbin is filled. So long as the lever 36 is in a down or bobbin winding position, the main drive shaft 12 cannot be driven by the motor 23.

Upon the operator lifting the lever 36, the bobbin C will be pulled away from the cylindrical disk 40 and the drive roller 21 will be swung completely out of contact with the spindle drive wheel 19 and biased back into engagement with the drive wheel 14 by means of the spring 30. Simultaneously, the cam follower 45 will force the spindle support bracket 16 into the position shown in Fig. l where the cam portion of the leg 16b can rest on the tip of the cam follower 45.

An important feature of the invention is that should the operating lever 36 remain down against the stop 39 the drive for bobbin spindle 10 will automatically slip and be essentially disconnected. The driving means B will be biased away from and out of engagement with the bobbin supporting means A and automatically biased back into engagement with the driving wheel 14 only after the operator has lifted the control lever 36.

Another important feature of the invention is that the bobbin winding device is simple and easy to operate with the other components of the machine driven by the shaft 12 being automatically made inoperative during the bobbin winding process and with the drive motor remaining disengaged from the main drive shaft 12 after the bobbin winding process has been completed.

Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to inadvertently overwind a bobbin so that an excess amount of thread is formed thereon by virtue of the provision of the automatic braking arrangement adapted to disengage the drive upon a predetermined amount of thread being wound upon the bobbin.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment in accordance with my invention, it is understood that the same is susceptible of many changes and modifications, as known to a person skilled in the art, and I intend to cover all such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a frame member, motor means pivotally supported by said frame member, spindle means rotatably supported by said frame member and for supporting and driving a bobbin, and means connected to said spindle means for selectively pivoting said motor means into and out of driving engagement with said spindle means.

2. In a sewing machine, a sewing machine frame member, motor means pivotally supported by said frame memher, spindle support means pivotally connected to said frame member, spindle means journalled in said spindle support means and adapted to carry a bobbin, and means for simultaneously urging said motor means into driving engagement with said spindle means and pivoting said spindle means.

3. In a sewing machine, a stationary member, motor means pivotally supported by said stationary member, spindle means rotatably supported by said stationary member and for supporting and driving a bobbin, and manual-1y operated means connected to said spindle means for selectively pivoting said motor means into and out of driving engagement with said spindle means.

4. In a sewing machine, a stationary sewing machine frame member, motor means pivotally supported by said stationary member, spindle support means pivotally connected to said stationary member in proximity of said motor means, spindle means journalled in said spindle support means and adapted to carry a bobbin, and cam means connected to said spindle support means for simultaneously urging said motor means into driving engagement with said spindle means and pivoting said spindle means.

5. In a sewing machine, a stationary sewing machine frame member, motor means having cam follower means attached thereto and pivotally supported by said stationary member, spindle support means pivotally connected to said stationary member in proximity of said motor means, spindle means journaled in said spindle support means and adapted to carry a bobbin, and lever operated cam means engaging said cam follower means for urging said motor means into driving engagement with said spindle means and for pivoting said spindle means.

6. In a bobbin winder for a sewing machine, a stationary member, a support member pivotally connected to said stationary member, a first shaft rotatably mounted in said support member and adapted to have a bobbin disposed on one end thereof, drive means frictionally connected to said first shaft, a friction clutch connected to said one end of said first shaft and adapted to automatically engage the bobbin and form a driving connection between the bobbin and said first shaft, a second shaft supported by said stationary member in a position generally parallel to said first shaft, a thread sensing element rigidly secured to said second shaft, said thread sensing element having a frictional braking portion adapted to extend between the flanges of the bobbin mount-ed on said first shaft and frictionally engage the thread wound thereon so as to brake the bobbin against further rotation, and means effective to prevent pivotal movement of said support member relative to said braking portion and relative to said drive means when the braking portion frictionally engages thread wound on said bobbin, said friction clutch permitting rotation of said first shaft relative to the bobbin when the bobbin has been braked by said braking portion.

7. In a bobbin winder for a sewing machine, a stationary member, a support member pivotally connected to said stationary member, a first shaft rotatably mounted in said support member, a friction clutch connected to one end of said first shaft adapted to automatically engage a bobbin disposed on one end thereof and form a driving connection between the bobbin and said first shaft, a second shaft supported by said stationary support member in a position generally parallel to said first shaft, a thread sensing element rigidly secured to said second shaft, said thread sensing element having a frictional braking portion adapted to extend between the flanges of the bobbin mounted on said first shaft and frictionally engage the thread wound thereon so as to brake the bobbin against further rotation, and motor means pivotally secured to said stationary member for movement into driving engagement with said first shaft upon said bobbin being moved toward said thread sensing element.

8. In a bobbin winder for a sewing machine as set forth in claim 7, further comprising manually operated means for pivoting said motor means into engagement with said first shaft for driving the same.

9. In a sewing machine, frame means, a main shaft journalled in the frame means for driving the sewing mechanism, spindle means rotatably and pivotally supported by the frame means for driving a bobbin, motor means pivotally supported by the frame means for selectively driving the main shaft and the spindle means, and means for simultaneously pivoting the spindle means and urging the motor means into driving engagement with the spindle means and out of driving engagement with the main shaft.

10. A machine as defined in claim 9 in combination with a thread sensing element having a frictional braking portion adapted to extend between the flanges of the bobbin when the motor means drives the spindle means to frictionally engage the thread wound on the bobbin.

11. In a sewing machine, frame means, a main shaft journaled in the frame means for driving the sewing mechanism, spindle means rotatably and pivotally supported by the frame means for driving a bobbin, motor means supported by the frame means for selectively driving the main shaft and the spindle means, a thread sensing element having a frictional braking portion, means for pivoting the spindle means between a first position wherein a bobbin thereon is remote from the braking portion and a second position wherein a bobbin thereon is adjacent the braking portion to permit the braking portion to engage thread wound on the bobbin, and means operable to disconnect the motor means from the main shaft and to drivingly connect the motor means to the spindle means in response to pivoting of the spindle means from said first position to said second position, and to disconnect the motor means from the spindle means and drivingly connect the motor means to the main shaft in response to pivoting of the spindle means from the second position to the first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,417,417 Ivandick Mar. 18, 1947 2,758,558 Waterman Aug. 14, 1956 2,838,020 Eriksson June 10, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 177,045 Austria Dec. 28, 1953 

